The National tribune., 1887-10-06
RETROSPECTIVE.
The Day After the National EnCamp-
ment AdiOuned---EVerybOdy More
Than Satisfied.
Editorial Correspondence.

Grand Army of the Repubiic-the event which
has been looked forward to with such interest,"
for many months; which has engrossed so much
of the attention Of the press and people Of the
country for more than year; which has been
the object of so many hopes and fears; which
was such sore disappointment to the Chief
Magistrate and his partizans; which was to DO
the great event of decade to one of the great
cities of the world, is at last thing Of history.
For more than a year we have been antici-
pating, planning. preparing for what is would
be. To-day we look back upon what it was.
week ago to-day this great city was dress
ing herself as q bride to meet the bridegroom,
20 do appropriate honor TO the tens of thousands
of veterans who were fastening toward her
gates from every part Of the Nation. Her ban
ners We're literally hung on her outer walls,
and everywhere that the eye of the incoming
stranger rested he saw blazcs of bunting, bright
hned banners, welcoming inscriptions and in-
sigma which recalled to him the pomp and cir
cumstance Of glorious war-and of the most
glorious war that man ever waged Every
where boisterous drums were beating, and the
silver voices of heroic bugles sounding as the
arriving comrades, all blue and gilt, marched
much Of the old proud tread which carried
them southwark to battle for the eternal right.
To-day they are fastening back 10 their
homes over every one of the scores of railroads
that radiate out of the city. The drums throb
no longer, the ringing bugles are silent. the
measured tread of marching men and the deep
cheers from sturdy throats no longer drown the
clatter of wheels and the hum of the passing
throngs going about their useful or useless
business.
The decorations on the walls, draggled and
stained with week of almost steady rain. are
being taken down, the tents that gave war
like aspect to the green squares are being
struck. laborers are busily engaged in removing
the litter and debris left by the immense as
semblage, and the thoughts Of all ara retrospect
i've.
The first Of these thoughts Is that the Ma
tional Encampment was an event unparalleled
in the history of the GAR. aud of the city Of
St. Louis.
1t was the largest, the most earnest and the
most important in every way of all the GAR.
gatherings since the foundation of the Order.
The numbers in attendance and the interest,"
manifested exceeded the most sanguine antici-
pations.
There were at least 100000 cid soldiers and
their relatives present in the city-anumberso
large that at first it seems almost incredible TO
those who were not here and saw the crowds Of
blue-coats who filed to overAowiug the streets
| aud every place of public resort in the heart Of
the city. They were literally sverywhere,-fl
ing the cities of tents in the spaeiOusparks over
loading the street cars, crowding the halls,
hotels, places of amusement and Post rooms
everywhere the same pleasant-voiced, we'll
behaved, kindly, courteous men, frequently ac-
companied by their 5edate wivesand weIl-grown
/ children.
| st. Louis never saw such q crowd before. She
never saw such an orderly, self respecting
/ gathering of men and women within her walls.
| Never did her police have so easy time in
managing throngs of strangers. Nowhere was
there bowling or disorder. It was never neces-
sary to even utter a warning OF menace. In
spite of the bitter disappointment caused by
the provoking persistence of the rain, every
body was gOod-tempered and tolerant. The
comrades behaved like the well disciplined gen.
| tlemen that they are in their homes and the
impression they produced upon the citizens was
admirable. It will but be hard to make the
| people of st. Louis believe that the GAR. rep
resents the very highest type of American man
hood.
On the other hand the highest praise is due
the people of st. Louis. They entered heart
and soul into the work Of entertaining
the veterans Hospitality. Every comrade was
made to feel as if he were an honored guest,
Il nd arI Il har xpffh b l.
and pleasant appreciation.
/ IF there was any one who did not recognize
him as a man whose services and sacrifices and
| personal character made him worthy of all
honor and kindly consideration, that one did
not let himself be known. In many ways the
| entertainment of the comrades exceeded any
thing ever attempted by any city in which
| National Encampment was held. The tone
Of the press was very complimentary and ap-
| preciative. and there ia every reason for be-
lieying that they voiced public sentiment As
a mass the people of Sc. Louis are second to
none in their admiration and affection for the
soldier. and they certainly showed this in
way that could not be mistaken. There is
nothing to criticize, nothing to ind fault with
in regard to st. LOuis's hospitality. but on the
contrary everything to praise. The comrades
could not have been treated better by the peO-
pie of any city. It is simply astonishing that
where such an immense throng came together
there should be 80 few causes of complaint, and
| these about such unimpOrtant things
The attendance, as was predicted by The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE. was beyond all precedent.
No one put the number of strangers in the city
| at less than 10000 while the best estimates
scored it near 100000. Everything seems 70
! indicate the greater correctness Of the latter
figure. For example, Illinois engaged tent ac-
cOmmOdatiOns for 5000, but quarters under
cover had to be found for %, 600. All the other
Departments did propOrtionately as well. All
the railroads reported that when they had agreed
to send one car two were wanted, and 50 on.
Had the weather proved favorable there would
without doubt have been $50, 600 in attendance
upon the EEeampmenC for immense numbers
residing within a days ride of the city, would
not leave their homes when they learned in
the morning or the night before how unpro-
pitious the weather was likely to be.
The feeling manifested was very gratifying.
Everybody seemed 10 DO imbued with the true
fraternaI spirit. lie was unieignedly glad to
be in St. Louis, to greet his old comrades and TO
do whatever was necessary to exalt the GA. x.
and further the cause of comTadeship. Every
body was consideraie, kindly and tolerant
Everybody was most anxious for the same
thing-that the Eneampment should be grand
success. and that the GAL should DC strength